We made it to the Pyramids!!! It is a sight to behold!!! They've certainly stood the test of time...4500+years and counting.
We'd met a guy at the Metro stop (our white skin says tourist loud & clear) who led us right to the carriage & horse stables where he set us up with a guide & ride (we're sure he got a cut) and in no time, our guide maneuvered us through the huge crowd of 99% Egyptians ...mostly by squeezing around the barriers & pushing and shoving, making a space for us.
The panoramic view you get as you enter is surreal. Massive. Iconic. Dusty. By carriage we passed the majority of the visitors and reached the base of the pyramid quickly. Then we climbed onto two kneeling camels who then rose up to about 7'. We rode around the base of a pyramid which once stood 146m high but has been lowered by the wind & rain by 9m and it's limestone finish all but gone. At one point, my camel refused to step over a chain, broke his lead rope & headed back to where we started. Luckily rather slowly. Many guides kept saying, "It's okay lady!" After about 200' of unleashed freedom...another guide slowly reached up & grabbed my camel's bridle. I kinda thought it was exciting!
Next we crawled down into the tunnel leading to the tomb inside the pyramid. It was totally dark so good thing our phone had a flashlight! The tunnel ended at the sarcophagus. Eerie . It was a heavy thought just thinking about the weight above you! We hiked around a bit then got back in the carriage to get to the sphinx that has stood guard in from for all these years. He still sits proudly and majestically in spite of some missing pieces.
These pyramids & the sphinx are the only one of the Seven Ancient Wonders that remains.
Sooo...you'd think after over 4000 years of being a tourist site, they'd have it set up perfectly. Far from it!!! The entrance gate was jammed & we were literally pushed through it. The area all around the pyramids was congested and chaotic. Horsing galloping, carts, camels & people going in every which direction. Poop everywhere. People climbing up on the pyramids and picnicking on fallen blocks. The tunnels into the pyramids completely dark with only a dirty fluorescent light lying on the ground by the sarcophagus.
All I can say is, it's a good thing those ancient Egyptians built mighty strong & durable pyramids cause we were thrilled to be able to see them!!
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